Abstract
The paper presents an approach to parametric finite element contact analysis and optimization of Topologically Interlocking Joineries (TIJs) utilizing the Design of Experiments (DOE) statistical technique. TIJs can be viewed as a design principle to join structural elements without metallic fasteners by using topology/geometry and contact mechanisms to create interlocking structures. Simulations of such joints require full 3D finite element models with contact interactions, which are computationally expensive thus time consuming to execute optimizations. In this context, we suggest the application of DOE to perform an efficient search through the design/variable space. This paper presents a case study on a TIJ called Basra Splice. This study revealed variable sensitivity that was not discovered in our previous paper. Moreover, DOE helped us gain further insights into the relationship between the geometrical variables and the structural behavior of the TIJ by estimating variable sensitivities and variable correlations.